V380 Bulb Camera

Pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras are built with mechanical parts that allow them to swivel left to right, tilt up and down, and zoom in and out of a scene. They’re typically used to monitor wide open areas requiring a 355 degree view, and deployed in guard stations where active personnel can operate them through a remote camera controller. Depending on the camera or software, they can also be set to automatically follow motion-triggered activity or adhere to a pre-set schedule. PTZ cameras are generally implemented in tandem with a larger surveillance system, in which the PTZ tracks movement while a fixed camera takes detailed shots.

While “PTZ” indicates a particular type of camera hardware, “ePTZ” references a software feature. Electronic pan-tilt-zoom (ePTZ) security cameras do not physically move, but use digital zoom to give the pan-tilt-zoom effect on a fixed camera. This allows camera operators to magnify areas they would like to focus on, and prevents the gaps in coverage characteristic of traditional PTZ cameras. With some solutions offering 355° coverage, an ePTZ camera can be a powerful way to provide a PTZ-like experience while still recording the entire field of view.